many shrewish or argumentative words. Your bottom hole may be filled with a stinging ginger fig, or with an unforgiving bulb or shaft, if you engage in exceptionally poor behavior.”
Her shivering turned to shuddering. Her legs could barely hold her. “I have never...heard of such things.” She feared she would collapse. “You...you cannot...”
“I need not,” he said, “if you behave yourself. But you’ve given me no indication that you possess either couth or self-control, and so I imagine such disciplinary humiliations may be necessary.” His fingers moved within hers, pulling her closer when she tried to back away. “I don’t mean to frighten you, or bully you. I’m only telling you the techniques at my disposal, so you’ll understand what is to go on if you cannot reform your behavior. It is simply a matter of learning by consequence. Negative conditioning, so to speak. I’ve made some study of the practice, for just such a case.”
“You’re evil and sick,” she said. “My father brought me here that you might torture me. I hate him, and I shall never forgive him for this.”
“You must not speak of your father with disrespect. That’s what has brought you to this pass in the first place.”
He let go of her hands and looked about the room as she stood trembling before him. “Do you find this chamber comfortable?” he asked, as if he had not just said such horrifying and grotesque things to her. “Is there anything else you require?”
“To go home.” She bit her lip against a stammer. “I require passage home.”
“Besides that,” he said, and then smiled like this was all a great lark. It was too much for her, and she hit out at him, and tried to run away, run from the room, screaming for someone, anyone to rescue her. He caught her from behind, and still she struggled, shouting for all she was worth.
“Please, help me. Please! If you can hear me, please help me. Go to my father the king. You shall have a reward!”
The more she screamed and struggled, the harder he held her. At last, she ran out of energy and slumped in the cage of his arms.
“There now,” he said, calm and cool as ever. “Do you feel better, now that you’ve gotten that out?”
“I hate you. I hate you!”
She screamed again, a shrill, helpless protest at her situation. No matter how she twisted and fought him, he would not free her. He would not let her go.
“That’s quite enough,” he said, after she exhausted herself with the second bout of begging and struggling. His lips brushed her ear, delivering a low, quiet message of finality. “No one here will help you or release you, especially not your father. You’re here at his command.”
She began to sob, frantic, keening sobs that hurt her throat.
“Well,” he said, drawing her to the chair near the fire. “I thought to spank you before you began to cry, but if you are already feeling regretful of your behavior, it’s the perfect time for chastisement.”
“But...” She resisted as he attempted to draw her down over his lap. “I haven’t done anything. I am only...only upset.”
“Of course you’re upset. It’s been a difficult day for you.” As he spoke, he forced her down despite all her efforts to keep her feet. “During our time together, you’ll be spanked every evening, generally just before bed, whether you need it or not.”
“What? Why?” she cried, kicking her legs.
He corralled them with effortless strength, trapping them between his legs so she was bent over his left thigh. “A nightly spanking has a cumulative effect of increasing docility in the recipient,” he explained. “In some sense, I suppose, it helps you learn to surrender. To submit. Your nightly spanking is a fine time for you to think about your behavior throughout the day, whether or not actual punishment is deserved.”
He lifted her skirts, baring her tensing bottom. She burned with mortification. “That’s not fair,” she said. “It’s